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Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:37 pm
by Anonymous User
So I'm top 25% at a T1 not on law review (secondary journal). After OCI results came back (did bad) I panicked that I wouldn't get a firm job/any job so I decided to mass mail every firm on the NLJ350 and NALP. Spent a ton of time and mailed every firm on the list. Surprisingly I have actually gotten some good results. I have 10 interviews set up, 3 of them are with Vault firms.

Today I got an email from a firm asking me to call and schedule an interview. After doing some research on the firm I realize I have absolutely no interest working there, none. Only reason I applied was because I figured beggars can't be choosers and I would take a job at this firm rather than not have a biglaw job at all (they are on the NLJ350 and pay market).

Now that I actually have some interviews I feel better about my job situation and would honestly like to decline the interview. However, I feel like I have to do the interview. After all I did reach out to them.

What should I do? Suggestions?

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:40 pm
by A. Nony Mouse
Do the interview. You don't have a job offer until you have a job offer. Presumably if all the others fell through you'd still prefer this to nothing. Besides, it will be good practice for your other interviews.

And if you really hate them after the interview and make you an offer, you can always turn them down.

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:41 pm
by soj
You have 10 interviews and no offers and you're getting picky?

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:42 pm
by 09042014
soj wrote:You have 10 interviews and no offers and you're getting picky?
After getting dinged at OCI.

Just LOL

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:43 pm
by Jsa725
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Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:46 pm
by Anonymous User
10 interviews within 1 week of mailing 350+ firms, considering my grades I think that's pretty good. I'm pretty confident now that I will get something. I feel like I no longer have to take ANY job I can get, I am no longer desperate. This firm doesn't really have any practice area I would be willing to work in. I'm leaning heavily towards just doing the interview. But let us say I want to decline it, how would I decline the interview?

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:48 pm
by Jsa725
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Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:52 pm
by NYstate
Anonymous User wrote:10 interviews within 1 week of mailing 350+ firms, considering my grades I think that's pretty good. I'm pretty confident now that I will get something. I feel like I no longer have to take ANY job I can get, I am no longer desperate. This firm doesn't really have any practice area I would be willing to work in. I'm leaning heavily towards just doing the interview. But let us say I want to decline it, how would I decline the interview?
Oh please be careful of hubris. It is possible to have a lot more than 10 interviews and not get an offer. You have to do this interview and sell yourself to the firm.

There was a northwestern grad who was a mod here ( I think) who had a ton of callbacks, but then the recession hit and he ended up with no job. 10 interviews is nothing and you haven't even had a screener, so they have no idea if they will like you.

Reality check: your credentials are mediocre and other people with better credentials will be gunning for these jobs. You have an excellent chance of not getting a job if they find people from better schools with better grades. Or they may just think you won't be a good fit. You have to keep hustling until you have accepted an offer.

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:53 pm
by brotherdarkness
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Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:59 pm
by Anonymous User
Ok I get, I should do the interview. I WILL do the interview. You've convinced me.



However, HYPOTHETICALLY how would one decline to do a screening interview? What about a callback?

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:02 am
by brotherdarkness
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Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:04 am
by Icculus
Anonymous User wrote:Ok I get, I should do the interview. I WILL do the interview. You've convinced me.



However, HYPOTHETICALLY how would one decline to do a screening interview? What about a callback?
You don't until you have an offer. Then, if you get and accelt an offer,as long as it's not same day, you explain you have accepted an offer and need to cancel.

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 1:27 pm
by lolwat
You don't until you have an offer. Then, if you get and accelt an offer,as long as it's not same day, you explain you have accepted an offer and need to cancel.
Yep.

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:07 pm
by iplulzer
ROTFLMFAO @ feeling so confident w 10 screeners and zero offers. Also this:
Jsa725 wrote:Can someone smarter than me please respond to the OP's retarded logic.

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 7:20 pm
by Gorki
OP this is 1L stuff seriously. You need to cancel 9 of those interviews right now. Just keep the interview with the 1 firm that has "work/life balance" box checked on NALP. You got this.

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:44 pm
by reasonable_man
Anonymous User wrote:So I'm top 25% at a T1 not on law review (secondary journal). After OCI results came back (did bad) I panicked that I wouldn't get a firm job/any job so I decided to mass mail every firm on the NLJ350 and NALP. Spent a ton of time and mailed every firm on the list. Surprisingly I have actually gotten some good results. I have 10 interviews set up, 3 of them are with Vault firms.

Today I got an email from a firm asking me to call and schedule an interview. After doing some research on the firm I realize I have absolutely no interest working there, none. Only reason I applied was because I figured beggars can't be choosers and I would take a job at this firm rather than not have a biglaw job at all (they are on the NLJ350 and pay market).

Now that I actually have some interviews I feel better about my job situation and would honestly like to decline the interview. However, I feel like I have to do the interview. After all I did reach out to them.

What should I do? Suggestions?

You're a dick. Do the interview.

Re: Declining an Interview

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:56 pm
by 6lehderjets
OP, if you have time, PM me.